Category Archives: Hard Copy Newsletter

Taking it to the next level / February 2013 Newsletter

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Several years ago, God gave What do you see, East Africaa vision for sharing His message of salvation through sports in East Africa.  Our staff responded by faith, and we witnessed the love of God at work, reconciliation and ministry in schools and health clinics changing lives in many settings, not just sports.

In January, AIA Global Sports was back in Uganda developing golf and other local ministry efforts when God decided to “take it to the next level”.  We received word that an official from the Ugandan Olympic Committee (UOC) wanted to meet.  At the meeting, the UOC representative announced Uganda wanted to invite Athletes in Action (AIA) to be the first official partner in developing their Olympic efforts over the next three years.

God has opened the door to assist Uganda in the development of their Olympic efforts in at least seven sports.  In doing this, AIA will be able to share God’s love and message of salvation with thousands of men and women.  According to AIA’s Global Sports Director,”We will help build expertise in athletes and walk along side them in the struggles they have on a day-to-day basis.”

What do you see, East Africa 2Would you please pray for our work in Uganda as well as our other 2013 Projects?  Together, we are making a difference by helping Global Sports staff and volunteers coordinate these projects and connect with those athletes, coaches and adults whom He wants to join us.

Please review our prayer page and support needs and lift up our ministry to the Lord.  Click the following:   to Feb 2013 print a hard copy newsletter.

Their reaction was worth the entire trip! / October 2012 Newsletter

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It was the last day of the Ugandan Girls basketball project and they were helping at the Peace for Children Africa (PCA) orphanage.  The PCA was one of the places the project served between the scheduled basketball-related outreaches.  You can catch more about the project at “What about right now?” and “AIA 2012 Ugandan Project“.  The orphans were excited to thank the team by showcasing their singing, dancing and acrobatic skills.  They were outstanding!  Afterward, our team gathered to give the kids one last gift.  Each child was invited by name to receive a backpack as the team sang “Mighty to Save”.  For us, this is not a big deal, but to them, it was huge because their reaction was worth the entire trip!  You could tell they were not expecting anything.

You may know the saying”We are saved by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone.” Faith is what saves us and it’s  always connected with good works.  This is why AIA’s Global Sports includes as much physical aid as possible for projects.  The gospel message comes in many forms, and compassion aid is a critical part of our projects.  AIA Global Sports is very mindful that sports activity is a doorway through which the life-changing message of the gospel moves.  Why use sports?   Nelson Mandela said it the best, “Sport has the power to change the world.  It has the power to inspire in a way that little else does. ”  Want to know more about AIA compassion aid? Click here.  Thanks, Katie for your help!

Please review our prayer page and support needs links and lift up our ministry to the Lord.  Click the following:  Oct 2012 to print a hard copy newsletter.

Uniquely Impacting the World / August 2012 Newsletter

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“I realized how dramatically sport can facilitate growth and change. It’s a tool God provided me that had the capacity to help me uniquely make a difference in the world.”  (Jessica)

Right now, a team of collegiate women basketball players is spreading fire seeds in the spiritual darkness of Europe, specifically in the  Czech Republic.  They are participating in pre-season conditioning, on-the-court drills, and scrimmages with professional women players from the Czech Republic.  They will have Bible studies and a great deal of hang out time together.  You can join this team over the week by lifting them, and all those they interact with, in prayer.  You can follow the team’s blog here.

Your prayers will have a vital role, not just in the lives of the Czech players and coaches attending the project, but also in the lives of girls who comprise the AIA mission team.  Don’t take my word for it;  take a minute to hear from Jessica and others who shared from the 2010 project there.

God has a unique plan for each of those attending the 2012 project, just as you saw in this short snippet from two years ago.  God is truly working in the most difficult parts of the world to reconcile this world to Himself again.  See the bigger picture at Breaking through the Spiritual Darkness.

Thanks for your partnership in our ministry with AIA’s Global Sports Teams.  My role includes facilitating communications and logistical support for projects just like this one around the world.

Please review our prayer page and support needs links and lift up our ministry to the Lord.  Click the following:  August 2012 to print a hard copy newsletter.

How do they do it? / July 2012 Newsletter

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“The impression left by our players is so positive that it makes people wonder how they do it.  They are doing such a good job of living out their faith in word and action.”  Coach G.

It was evident that God was at work from the very beginning with the Brazilian Basketball Project.  Their focus on playing for an Audience of One clearly brought the team together for His purposes.  Even before leaving for Brazil, the team played a game in a maximum security prison where they engaged inmates on a personal level.  Andrew shared his testimony, and the inmates responded with a standing ovation.

God used this focus on serving Him and each other throughout the project, constantly drawing people to them to find out why the team was so different.  The response during the clinics?  “The kids loved it.  They just love to be close to our guys and they (the AIA team) do such a great job of demonstrating what a Godly man is supposed to look like.”  This made the athletes’ testimonies more effective with everyone attending.  Brazilian players and coaches made decisions to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior during the tour.  The Holy Spirit led the way using relationships and conversations at games, practices, or during after-game activities to open hearts to a relationship with Jesus Christ.  One Brazilian player/coach attended every game the team played for over a week and then accepted Christ.  (Photo Source: http://atletasaea.blogspot.com.br/)

Please review our prayer page and support needs links and lift up our ministry to the Lord.  Click the following:  July 2012 to print a hard copy newsletter.

What will be the impact? / June 2012 Newsletter

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We will never know the full impact of June 2012 this side of eternity;  however, God does.  By the time you read this post, seventeen missions projects will have been fielded by AIA’s Global Sports Teams.  They included hundreds of volunteers sharing the gospel in thirteen different countries.  These projects involved five different sports with two using a multi-sport format.  This month alone, Sports Teams conducted ministry operations in South Asia, East Asia, the USA, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mongolia, Brazil, Ghana, Zimbabwe, the Middle East, Mexico, Poland, and the United Kingdom.  In fact, this summer Global Sports Teams will be sending over 400 volunteers to 27 countries on a total of 41 missions projects.  We praise God for all He will accomplish this summer through these efforts!

Karen and I are excited about all the possibilities as God works in the lives of volunteers, athletes, coaches, and everyone who heard the gospel message.  Countless connections and relationships will be built by divine appointment.  Who will God raise up as messengers of His love in these countries?  What opportunities will they have and who will hear that same message through their actions?  Over the next several months we will be sharing  some of the countless stories of God’s work of reconciliation.

We are privileged to have an assignment that allows us to assist in the fielding of these projects.  You have a part as well, as you partner with us in prayer and financial support.  Thank You!

Please review our prayer page and support needs links and lift up our ministry to the Lord.  Click the following:  Jun 2012 to print a hard copy newsletter.

The Hill of Transformation / May 2012 Newsletter

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None of them were ready for the day, the final leg in the UTC Special Journey.  It would be a one-mile run up a steep hill in the Colorado Mts.  All 150 of them knew it was coming. After days of intense physical and mental training with their teams, focusing on AIA’s 5 Principles, it was time for the challenge.  But they did not know how it would change everyone involved.  This final leg was on their own and would require all they had left to give and more. Halfway through, everyone was dealing with their pain by crying, praying and singing.  Then there was Alex, who injured his hip earlier.  His heavily wrapped hip was already pulsing with pain and he was moving much slower than everyone else.   However, he was determined to finish.  Halfway through, Alex dropped to on one knee, exhausted.  All hearts sank, but then someone yelled, “God’s got this, Alex.  Let Him finish it.”  His AIA trainer ran alongside saying, “Who’s with you?  Who’s running with you? Who’s running for you?”  Everyone started cheering.  When Alex finished the course, he collapsed into the arms of his teammates. The UTC experience served to magnify several times over what Christ endured for us.   The event culminated in worship with total peace, surrender, and joy.  (Story adapted from an AIA UTC 2012 blog posting)

Please review our prayer page and support needs links and lift up our ministry to the Lord.  Click the following:  May 2012 to print a hard copy newsletter.

Going beyond sports / Apr 2012 Newsletter

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Last May I had the privilege of serving at an evening filled with real life examples of dedication, love, and humility.  It was a celebration of two athletes who shared God’s transforming power in their lives and the journey of learning to live out their faith daily.  What a contrast to today’s sports headlines.

Frank Reich, one of the inductees, framed the key to his walk of faith this way; “We have all been watching the news about Osama bin Laden. The other day I saw an interview with a former Navy Seal. He said it is all about the men and the mission. I am here to tell you I feel the same way,” Reich said. “Each one of us has challenges we face all of the time. I am praying every day to find strength and courage through God.”  Frank chose to live out his faith daily, and everyone noticed, including Jim Kelly, who gave his life to Christ because of Frank’s example of faith when they played with the Buffalo Bills.   

Frank was sharing with over 400 sports fans and professionals, many of whom will likely not be in a church anytime soon.

Please lift up the 2012 Night of Champions (NOC) to be held on May 12th at AIA in Xenia, OH.  This year’s inductees will be Tamika Catchings and Clark Kellogg.

Together, we are changing lives just like Frank as we live out our faith each day.

Please review our prayer page and support needs links and lift up our ministry to the Lord.  Click the following:  Apr 2012   to print a hard copy newsletter.